Part 19A
Aa Dekhe Zara
Aakash Ganga Society
5.00pm
It had been difficult. It had taken a great deal of cajoling on the part of both Raman and Ishita. But finally their mothers had agreed. Mrs Bhalla to inviting the Iyers to celebrate Ruhi's custody win with them, and Mrs Iyer to accepting the invitation. "Sirf Ruhi ke liye" Mrs Bhalla had said huffily. "Only for Ruhi, Ishita" Mrs Iyer had unknowingly echoed her Punjabi neighbour.
The invitation itself had been made in the middle of the common space between their two apartments. No mans land, Ishita thought resignedly as she stood at her doorway, trying not to laugh at the looks on the faces of both her mother and mother in law. Still, they had agreed to spend time together, in one room, and that was a start.
Mihika had been a tougher nut to crack. Ishita had called her at work and she had immediately vetoed the idea, but once again, Ishita had used the emotional blackmail of Ruhi to get her to agree. And perhaps the knowledge that Mihir would be there too played a large role in Mihika's assent. Mihika had kept up her one-sided estrangement with Mihir all week, but Ishita suspected that her cousin was now ready to forgive her boyfriend for not taking her out with him the previous Sunday.
Raman and his siblings, along with Mihir, had been busy at work in the Aakash Ganga community hall all afternoon, decorating the room for Ruhi's celebration. Bala had now arrived to join them, and although Simmi's baleful glare and caustic tongue had banished Ishita when she had gone over to enquire if she could help, Bala was made of stronger stuff and had disregarded Simmi, and was now busy with the decorations.
Ishita had decided to stay outside with Ruhi and Shravu, and was now happily playing soccer with them, refereeing the two little combatants who seemed more interested in kicking each other than the ball.
Raman had stepped outside the hall to take a phone call when he noticed his wife, her daughter and her nephew at play. His responses grew perfunctory as he watched them, his eyes misty with happiness. Ishita was running after Ruhi, her hair flying around her face, her dupatta tied around her slim waist. She caught up with Ruhi and pounced on her, their giggles drowning out Shravu's complaints.
"Mr Ali, I'll call you back" He switched off the call and stared at his loves instead. "Thank you Matarani" he whispered. "Thank you"
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7.00pm
Community Hall
The hall looked beautiful, decorated with pink and silver balloons and tinsel. The caterers that Raman had hired were handing out drinks and snacks to the guests as they arrived, and the mood was already jovial.
Toshi Bhalla, resplendent in a bright red salwar suit, red and white roses in her hair, and strands of pearls festooned around her neck, stood with her best friend Pammi at the entrance, greeting their neighbours and friends. Ruhi had been stationed with her but had run away after 5 minutes, and was now happily being chased around the hall by her Romi chachu.
The music which Romi had arranged was blaring out of the speakers as Raman stood by the dias, looking out anxiously for his wife.
"Come quickly madrassan" he texted once again. "I miss you"
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7.05 pm
Iyer Apartment
Ishita was standing in the middle of the Iyers living room waiting for her amma and Mihika, and reading a text from Vandita, when Raman's text arrived.
She smiled as she looked at his message, and then called out urgently:
"Amma, it's just Ruhi's party. Why are you taking so long? And Mihika, you too, jaldi aao na. Akka and Bala Jiju are here. Akka just texted, they are just parking the car. And appa went half an hour ago. Jaldi karo na please."
"Aa rahe hai kana, why are you fussing so much?" Mrs Iyer sailed regally into the living room, a white and gold Kanjeevaram sari draped around her, gold jewellery dripping off her ears, throat, hands and fingers.
"Amma" Ishita gasped. She herself was dressed in a simple pink sari, the chiffon fabric flecked with silver highlighting the glow on her face. Her thali was hidden beneath her high necked, sleeveless blouse, and the two Chooda on her arms were her only visible jewellery. "What is this amma? It's just a simple children's party downstairs, not a wedding reception."
"I'm not going to let that Toshi Bhalla win over me Ishita. I saw her going down. Lal suit pehen kar. Young girl dikhna chahti hai. Usko mein bataongi class kya hai" {I saw her going down. She was wearing a red suit. Wants to look like a young girl. I'm going to show her what class is}
Ishita looked up and muttered "Aiyyo Murugan, give me strength"
"Ishu, I heard that" Mrs Iyer responded.
"Fine, I wanted you to hear it. Please, now let's go amma. Mihika we are going"
Ishita shepherded her mother to the door and then stepped back in shock.
Abhi stood at the entrance, his hand poised to knock.
"Chitti, Ishu" he exclaimed, smiling happily. He then looked again at Mrs Iyer in her sartorial splendour and his smile faded.
"Kahin jaa rahe theh aap log?" He asked in a more subdued tone. {Are you going somewhere?}
"Bas neeche jaa rahe theh Abhi" Mrs Iyer piped up before Ishita could say anything. "Ruhi Bhalla ki party hai. Uski custody mil gayi uske sharaabi father ko. Tum bhi chalo na hamaare saath. Come, come." {we are just going downstairs Abhi, it's Ruhi Bhalla's party. Her drunk father won her custody. You come with us too. Come come.}
"Amma, I'm sure Abhi doesn't want to go to a children's party" Ishita blurted out, ruing Abhi's timing. She had completely forgotten that he was due back from Singapore today.
Abhi looked at her, a pensive look on his face. "Actually Ishita, I would love to come, if you don't mind. I really like what Bhalla is doing with the Mehta campaign. He is a real genius at marketing. I should congratulate him about his daughter."
"Of course you should come jeeju" Mihika had come up behind Ishita and she linked her arms with her cousin and aunt, beaming at Abhi. She was dressed to kill in tight jeans and a white kurta. Well, dressed to kill Mihir, if truth be told. "of course you should come" she repeated. "Let's go"
"Kya kar rahe ho. We arrived before you" Vandita's voice called out from the stairs and the Iyers and Abhi started walking towards her. Ishita took a deep breath, noticing how Abhi had slowed to wait for her, how he had paired himself with her, and the smiles her mother and sisters gave as they stepped ahead.
"Help me Murugan" she muttered to herself as Abhi smiled down at her. "I missed you Ishita" he was whispering, his head bent, close to hers, as they turned the corner and arrived at the hall.
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7.20pm
Community Hall
Shravan had run off to join Ruhi as soon as they had arrived at the hall, and Vandita had gone off muttering to look for her mother and sisters.
Left to his own devices, Bala had gravitated towards Raman and Mihir, both of whom were standing staring pensively at the door, glasses of Amber liquid in their hands.
"Relax" Bala whispered to Raman, correctly interpreting the look on his face. "Ishu is coming"
The words were barely out of his mouth when there was a shimmer at the door. Mrs Iyer stood glittering in her white and gold, even as Mrs Bhallas smile turned into a frown at being out blinged.
If the sight of Mrs Iyer had given rise to envy in the hearts of Toshi and Panmi, the sight of Mihika, the next to come into view, gave rise to an entirely different sensation in the hearts of the young men in the room. She sauntered in past the older ladies, her tight jeans accentuating her curves, making a beeline for Romi, who was staring at her with his tongue almost out of his mouth, ignoring Mihir who was staring desperately at her.
But even Mihika was forgotten at the sight of the next entrant at the door.
"Oh no" Bala muttered. "Where did he come from?" Bala glanced anxiously at Raman, putting a restraining hand on his shoulder as he started forward, his face thunderous, his eyes darkening with angry passion.
Ishita stood framed in the doorway. Her glossy raven locks fell past her shoulders, her chiffon sari in Ruhi's favourite colour gave her an air of untouched innocence. But there was something else attached to her. An arm around her shoulder. Abhi's arm.
Ishita looked anxiously toward Raman and her jeeju, desperately wishing that Abhi would disappear off the face of the earth. She noticed her husbands flashing eyes, his brow crinkled in a frown, his lips set in a thin line.
Then as she stared, Raman started to walk toward them.
"Murugan" Ishita whispered for the umpteenth time that evening. "Murugan, please, please, please, help me."
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Aaa dekhe zara
Kis mein kitna hai dum
Jum ke rakhna kadam
Mere saathiyaan
Aage nikal aaye hum woh
Piche reh gaye
Upar chale aaye hum woh
Niche reh gaye
Woh humse haarenge
Hum baazi maarenge
Hum unse kya hai kam
Naachenge aise hum
Naachenge aise hum
Naachenge woh kya (kya kya)
Saare sheher mein humi hai
Humsa kaun hai
Dekho idhar hum yahi hai
Humsa kaun hai
Dekhenge dekha hai
Jaadu kya aisa hai
Yaaron se jalne ka
Kaaton pe chalne ka
Kaaton pe chalne ka
Kya hai fyaida
Aaa dekhe zara
Kis mein kitna hai dum
Jum ke rakhna kadam
Mere saathiyaan
Part 19B: Nahi Doosra Koi Aur Hai
Edited by Veeann - 10 years ago
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